Shipped chicks dying!**Update**

[NorthTexasWink]

All the more reason to try to source your chicks locally if at all possible. Local animals are also more likely to be acclimated to your conditions and have better immunity to whatever diseases plaque your area. You will probably find breeds and strains more suited to thriving in your own flock if they do well nearby.

 

[NorthTexasWink]

Before and during brooder cleanup and pasty butt patrol. Trying the drop of olive oil trick, since I've never tried it before. Only two dirty bottoms and one really dirty one out of 25. Not bad!

 

[NancyNurseCxMama]

NorthTexasWink they are beyond adorable!!!
What do you feed your chicks?

 

[NancyNurseCxMama]

So sorry, MTchicknman.
Hoping the rest of your chicks are healthy and strong.

 

[NorthTexasWink]

Feeding them medicated Purina starter crumbles, since that's what my local feed store had in stock in 25 pound bags.

 

[NancyNurseCxMama]

Are you using the medicated feed? My chicks were not vaccinated and the medicated feed is what the seller recommended. Not knowing anything, I went for it. So far so good but I always am wondering if I'm doing the right thing or could have done better by them.
Yes, I am NUTS, lol.

 

[NorthTexasWink]

My chicks were vaccinated at the hatchery for Marek's. I know, probably not something I need to worry about them getting, but at $0.15/chick it seems like cheap insurance. The medicated feed is medicated with a coccidiostat, it helps protect them from the very common and easily transmitted disease coccidiosis. Again, cheap insurance. I'm not breeding or selling certified organic anything, so I'm good. These future hens will be long past the withdrawal period of 10 days by the time they lay any eggs.

And I doubt you are doing anything that will hurt your chickens. I'm often told I seem pretty laid back, but I pay attention to the importance things. I just don't sweat the small stuff. Seems to me most people have good instincts, so following your gut often works out ok.

 

[MTchicknman]

Yeah folks, this ain't my first rodeo - ...... I know it could be a multitude of things, but having seen the videos of one of the many hatcherys' "breeding flock" with all the roosters and all the hens in one big warehouse/barn, it makes me wonder how often they replace the hens and roosters from other flocks, or are they just breeding indiscriminately without introducing 'new blood' into the flock. Hence, my comment about weaknesses in the breed.

Also, for those who think I believe the USPS is the greatest thing since bottled beer, I contracted to janitor at a USPS about 30 years ago, and brought it to the attention of the Post Master that one of the magazines I was supposed to dispose of was correctly addressed to a good friend of mine who hadn't moved in a couple of years, yet it was marked as non-deliverable. I was angrily informed that I was NOT to look at the 'disposable' mail and I could be guilty of a Federal crime just for reporting it to him! So much for the USPS needing more money every year for 'delivering the mail.' Most likely the result of a lazy carrier who didn't want to load it into his mail van.

Personally, I think the USPS should be privatized and run as a profit-making organization - kinda like UPS or Fed-Ex, and the bid should come up for that privilege every 2 to 4 years - get rid of the graft and theft that way!
Just my two cent's worth!

 

[NancyNurseCxMama]

@NorthTexasWink Sorry, I missed that you mentioned "medicated" in your response. Tired, lol---working on the run all day and finishing up some gardening. "Big Clean" day for the brooder. They're all tucked in for the night and now I get to dig through the posts here!
Thanks for your encouragement.
Spent some time earlier getting them more used to handling. Four of the seven are sweet peas and it looks like the other three are slowly coming around. Funny, the stand-offish ones were very curious when I took the others out, one at a time, and cuddled them in my lap. But not quite brave enough to volunteer. Maybe next time.
You've probably guessed already that I am not raising these guys for meat purposes. Nope, strictly pets. When they are done with their productive years they will live their lives out in peace until the end. Hopefully I can give them long and happy little chicken lives.
And the planner that I am, I have even researched humane euthanasia methods. I do realize that the eventuality of that is very real, of course. Sad, but a part of life. Had lots of beloved animals in my life, just not chickens.
Crazy old chicken lady.
LOVE seeing your little ones and am looking forward to seeing their progress and learning from you!
One quick question---how long do you keep them on the medicated feed? I see on the bag that it says 16-20 weeks but I was wondering after you mentioned the 10 day withdrawal period.
Thanks in advance for your help and now I will leave you to your temperature regulation and pasty butt checks!

 

[MTchicknman]

@ NancyNurseCxMama
No, I don't use medicated feed, keep in mind that whatever you feed your animals, when you eat them or their produce, you're eating those same drugs. Just like the FDA has said that TSP is not good for our animals, yet they allow some breakfast cereals to contain TSP. I don't trust the FDA any farther than I could throw a bull by the tail!